10 July 2011 (gig)
24 July 2011
After the hideous winter of snow and cold, thank goodness the time for The Sun to show face is here! What better way to celebrate the sexiest season of the year, than to put on wellie boots, novelty sunglasses and kick back for a summer of music festivals? Ok, so the weather for Scotland’s biggest music festival T in the Park was horrendous, but that did not seem to hinder the mood in the slightest. T in the Park 2011 boasted it’s most impressive line up to date: this is Music-News roundup of the best bits of this year's festival day two.
Clearing the cobwebs of a drunken Saturday, United Fruit set the T Break stage on fire as the first of Sunday’s highlights. Tangy and refreshing like a morning glass of pineapple juice, United Fruit were definitely worth rushing down early for. The band are loud, bold and elegant all at the same time, delivering a banging wakeup call and jump-starting Sunday’s line up in to shape.
Sunday’s main stage line up is probably the best to date, and it’s completely unnecessary to stray from its glow the entire day. As the heaven’s open for one of the wettest T in the Parks ever, Blondie take to the stage. Debbie Harry almost sounds as if she is losing her voice, but I’m putting this down to horrific weather and nothing else! Debbie Harry is the most iconic figure at this year’s festival (eat that Beyoncé!) and the Blondie show is a legendary one as expected.
Topping Blondie is the biggest highlight of the weekend, grunge-rockers Weezer. As the recognisable ‘Undone – Sweater Song’ chords resound, Rivers doesn’t care at all that it’s raining: “I’ll wear your yellow poncho like a super hero cape!”. Rivers is in the audience before the second song trying on everyone’s hat and glasses, before sprinting to the back of the crowd and singing simultaneously. Every song is a classic, charmingly performed by one of the most influential American grunge-punk bands of my generation.
As a teenager, you always had to pick a side – Blur or Pulp? Slightly sceptical of the rival band, I stick around for Pulp’s main stage performance. Turns out, Jarvis Cocker is a brilliant front man, telling jokes, giving out sweets and literally wiping his ass with the last ever issue of that deceased newspaper. Singing and dancing his way charismatically through all the best Pulp songs, Jarvis makes Pulp an undeniably good festival band.
One band worth straying from the main stage for is Glasgow-based trio Fatherson who made their T Break debut this year. Fatherson are one of the best unsigned bands on the Scottish music scene and to hear them on such a big stage is just incredible. With stunning vocals, mesmerising beats and an astounding knack for song-writing, Fatherson are the one band to keep your eye on this year.
Headlining the festival is one of the best bands in the world – no arguments necessary. Rocking the main stage are Foo Fighters, and my goodness can that band deliver a stunning show. Today has been a day of iconic musicians and Dave Grohl is no exception! With two hours to lay down some hard rock grunge classics, Grohl and band thrill their way to the end of the set. Foo Fighters are the perfect end to what has been one of the best T in the Park line ups to date. Despite the rain and mud, T in the Park was the coolest event this Summer.
